Throughout the academic year, Chaminade students across every major make contributions to their fields of study through original research projects, creative work and scholarship.
Chaminade’s annual undergraduate conference, Na Liko Naʻauao, recognizes these pursuits and provides students the opportunity to share their work with peers, faculty and the public.
This year’s 17th annual Na Liko conference, planned by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research, took place on April 26 at Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center, where a total of 91 students showcased their academic projects.
Every project at Na Liko has been developed over the past academic school year under the mentorship of a faculty member. So participating in the conference affords undergraduate students the invaluable experience of beginning a research project with a question, developing it with the guidance of a professor and publically presenting their findings and receiving feedback.
Na Liko broadens students’ resumes, gives them practice at public speaking, creates a positive environment for scholarly discussion and offers an experience valuable to graduate schools.
Open to the Chaminade community, as well as friends and families of students, Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center became a gallery of artwork and poster presentations that observers could peruse and ask questions of presenters for the first few hours of the conference.
Following the presentations was a formal program, including a blessing by students Savannah Lyn Delos Santos and Andrew Trapsi, an Oli by Kawena Ryan Phillips, remarks by university president, Dr. Lynn Babington and presentation of awards by Dr. Janet Davidson, associate vice provost.
Two awards are presented at Na Liko each year that honor an outstanding student and faculty mentor.
This year’s President Sue Wesselkamper Prize recognized Chloe Talana who studied blood samples from HIV-infected individuals to document how their immune cells function as part of a summer research program at Johns Hopkins University. She first presented her research at the Leadership Alliance symposium in Connecticut and was invited to present her research again at the recent conference in Indianapolis. She attended the national conference with six other Chaminade students, three of whom also presented their research.
Honoring the close student-faculty relationships formed at Chaminade, the President Mackey Prize is an award presented to an outstanding faculty mentor, nominated by a student participating at the conference.
Nominated by Nicole Sagapoluetele, this year’s President Mackey Prize was awarded to Senior Lecturer, Justin Wyble. The President Mackey Prize is awarded to a faculty member who exemplifies outstanding mentoring of student research.
Na Liko Na’auao is presented by the Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research. It is an undergraduate conference featuring students from all disciplines, who deliver academic presentations showcasing their projects in their related work to research in their field and creative work in the visual and performing arts. Students are sponsored by a faculty member and present the results of their original work in oral and/or poster presentations before their peers, faculty, and the public.
